Final answer:
The advantage of eukaryote-like cell division over prokaryotic binary fission for a newly evolving protist would be the ability to orderly segregate multiple linear chromosomes. This allows for the maintenance of more complex genetic information and lower rates of error during DNA replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the differences between eukaryote-like cell division and prokaryotic binary fission, it's important to understand the advantages that the eukaryotic mechanism can provide to a newly evolving protist. Binary fission is a simpler, faster process suited to prokaryotic organisms with a single, circular chromosome, while eukaryotic cell division involves the replication and segregation of multiple linear chromosomes.
For a protist evolving eukaryotic mechanisms, the main advantage of using cell division is the ability to manage the orderly and efficient segregation of multiple linear chromosomes during cell division. This is particularly important for complex cells with multiple chromosomes, which can contain vast amounts of genetic information. The complexity of eukaryotic cell division, including processes like mitosis and cytokinesis, ensures that each daughter cell receives an accurate copy of the genetic material, reducing the rates of error per chromosome replication.
The claim that binary fission would not allow the formation of new organisms or complex cells is incorrect because it does allow for reproduction and can sustain simple unicellular life forms. However, the transition to eukaryotic cell division mechanisms can be associated with the evolution of cellular complexity, providing a framework for handling larger and more complex genomes.